The Powers That Be: Daily Putin’s Stall Tactics & Trump’s Oval Ambush
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May 23, 2025 Julia Ioffe, a journalist and foreign policy expert focusing on Russia and Eastern Europe, joins Leigh Ann Caldwell to delve into the unsettling dynamics of Trump's recent call with Putin. They discuss Trump's disillusionment with the Ukraine situation and the implications for President Zelensky. The conversation shifts to an awkward Oval Office meeting with South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, where Ioffe critiques the administration's promotion of white supremacy theories, revealing the darker undercurrents of U.S. political power.
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Putin's Stall Tactics on Ukraine
- Trump is fatigued by the Ukraine war and wants Europe to manage it instead.
- Putin uses stall tactics to avoid ceasefires and maintain maximal demands, playing a delaying game.
Trump's Economic Focus With Russia
- Trump seeks economic incentives over sanctions for Russia, desiring lucrative deals there.
- His administration tolerates corruption and prioritizes personal and familial gain in foreign policy.
Declining US Support Harms Ukraine
- Declining US support leaves Ukraine vulnerable as Trump refuses new aid or sanctions on Putin.
- Europe's limited capacity to sustain aid means backing off aids Putin's war efforts.